Types of course materials

Updated 19 Feb 2024

All course material assets are categorized by type. The following table provides a list of available asset types. You may not have access to each of the types shown here. Additionally, icons in your course may differ from those shown here.

Instructor-only assets display the instructor only icon after the asset name. You cannot assign instructor-only assets or make them visible to students.

Activity (MyLab IT only) -- Term used to refer to specific types of assets (activity types) that contain questions used for assessment (such as homework, quiz, or test).

An activity is used to evaluate students' performance based on their answers to questions included in the activity.

Dropbox (file upload) MyLab IT (only) -- Opens an activity that requires students to upload their assignment for manual evaluation by the instructor.

eText activity (MyLab Languages only) -- Online versions of activities found in the corresponding textbook.

eText link -- Opens the Pearson eText, an online book associated with the course. You can specify a single page or a range of pages in a link.

Extra practice (MyLab Languages only) -- Machine-gradable activities that provide further practice on the vocabulary or grammar topics in each chapter.

Exam (skill-based; MyLab IT only) -- An assessment that provides a simulation environment that mimics a software application.

Students perform tasks in the simulated environment as they would in the live application.

File -- Opens a specific web-compatible file. Web-compatible file types include HTML files, MS Office documents, Flash files, images, media, PDF files, and most other file formats supported by web browsers. This asset type lets instructors make any type of web-compatible external file available to students.

Flashcards (MyLab Languages only) -- Study aids that help students review words and quiz themselves on the vocabulary in each chapter. Flashcards can also be downloaded to mobile devices for select titles.

Folder -- Used to organize course materials. Folders can contain other folders or assets. Click to open the folder. To return to the previous folder, click the back arrow at the top of the list or click a folder name that appears in the navigation trail to the right of the arrow.

Grader project (MyLab IT only) -- Opens an activity that lets students work "live" in a Microsoft Office application instead of a simulated environment. Students download a Microsoft Office document or file to use as the starting point and then upload the completed document or file for automatic evaluation.

Instructor activity (MyLab Languages only) -- Type of activity used to create voice recording questions.

Link -- Opens a specific URL. This asset type lets students access course-related web-based resources.

Objective-based question only activity (MyLab IT only) -- Displays an activity used to evaluate students' mastery of information and skills.

Page -- Opens an HTML page, which may include links or references. This asset type lets instructors create HTML pages that may be informational or used to present an embedded Flash animation or video.

Practice tests with study plan (MyLab Languages only) -- Comprehensive tests on the vocabulary, grammar, and/or culture presented in the corresponding chapter. MyLanguageLabs generates a unique study plan with remediation materials based on student's individual performance on a practice test. Not available in all MyLab Languages titles.

Readiness check (MyLab Languages only) -- Personalized assessment tools that provide students with an individualized learning experience based on their actual results. A readiness check is typically a collection of two tests (pre-test and post-test) supported by study materials. The pre-test checks student mastery of one or more content areas or learning objectives. Students are then assigned customized study materials to improve their understanding of course material that their pre-test results identified as not yet mastered. The post-test measures the student's understanding of all the content areas covered in the pre-test and reinforced by the study materials.

Student activities manual (SAM) (MyLab Languages) -- Offers students online practice opportunities. Many activities feature audio. Activities are either machine-graded or instructor-graded.

Study plan (MyLab IT only) -- Personalized assessment tools that provide students with an individualized learning experience based on their actual results. A study plan is typically a collection of two tests (pre-test and post-test) supported by study materials. The study plan pre-test checks student mastery of one or more content areas or learning objectives. Students are then assigned customized study materials to improve their understanding of course material that their pre-test results identified as not yet mastered. The post-test measures the student's understanding of all the content areas covered in the pre-test and reinforced by the study materials.

Test (MyLab Languages only) -- An assessment used to evaluate student mastery.

Training (skill-based; MyLab IT only) -- Displays an activity designed to help students master the information and skills presented in the course.

Web activity (MyLab Languages only) -- Activities based on the web URLs that require student research.